In order to win on the defensive side of the ball, one of the things the Chargers will need to do is make it a struggle for Jaguars quarterback Gardner Minshew to get a grip, literally.
In eight games as the team’s starter, Minshew has been efficient, tossing 14 touchdowns and only five interceptions. But like any rookie, there’s going to be some growing pains and for Minshew it’s ball security.
The former Washington State product has fumbled the ball 12 times and has lost seven of them, which is tied for the second-most in the league.
There’s no denying the athleticism of Minshew. He will look to extend plays with his legs quite frequently, ranking sixth in yards rushing among quarterbacks this season. But while he can break some ankles from time to time, he will also run and lose the football.
Despite possessing one of the league’s best defenses, Los Angeles hasn’t been able to take the ball away out of their opponent’s hands. The unit is tied for last in forced fumbles this season with only six.
That could very well change this weekend.
It all starts with the pressure up front. They can’t allow Minshew to leave the pocket too soon, which is what he susceptible to doing. Defensive end Joey Bosa and company should benefit from facing an offensive line that gave up five sacks last weekend.
Next, they have to actively be looking to strip the ball by swiping it away and utilize hard tackling at the second level of the defense to dislodge the football if he does manage to escape the pocket.
If they can do that, they will keep Minshew and company off the field, eliminating their opportunities to score on Sunday.
